Dzil Ta’ah Adventures Organizes Unique Bikepacking Trips in the Navajo Nation [Podcast #297]

Jon Yazzie and Nadine Johnson own Dzil Ta’ah Adventures, an adventure travel company based in Arizona. A full-blooded Diné, Jon and his team run bike trips on Navajo land, and use the proceeds to help fund a local youth cycling program.

What makes land in the Navajo Nation so special and unique? What is the riding like there?
Why did it take so long to receive permits for conducting bike tours on Navajo land?
How were you able to adapt your tour business in the time of Covid-19?
What is bikerafting, and is it different from bikepacking? Do you combine the two on your trips?
How are your trips set up? What is the cost?
Do you provide history and context to the landscape as a part of your tours?
In addition to yourself, do you employ others as bike guides?
What role do you think tourism can play in terms of boosting the local economy?
What is the goal for the Navajo-youth bike program you are supporting?
Is there one thing you wish more people could understand or know about the Navajo culture?

Learn more and get in touch at dziltaahadventures.com, and follow them on Instagram @dziltaahadventures.

This episode is sponsored by Jamis Bikes. Singletracks is psyched that Jamis Bikes has come on as a sponsor of the podcast and is also a supporter of the website.

Jamis has been designing and building quality bikes since 1979, and they were among the first to produce mountain bikes beginning in 1982.

The brand has brought the world some iconic and award-winning mountain bikes over the past 40 or so years, and The Dragon has been the soul of the brand for decades. Introduced in 1993, the Dragon hardtail delivers the feel that only comes with high quality steel, and it’s done so for nearly 30 years running.

The newer Jamis Portal and Hardline full suspension bikes feature the innovative and race-proven 3VO suspension platform, built into both carbon and aluminum frame options.
You can check out this year’s all-new Dragon and 3VO bikes, along with the entire lineup of Jamis high performance mountain bikes at www.jamisbikes.com.